Identity Crisis

Feast of James, the Apostle 

(Mt 20: 20-28) 

Today is the feast of James, the Apostle. The New Testament mentioned him along with Peter and John several times, on Jesus’ Transfiguration (Mt 17:1) and His agony in the garden (Mk 14: 33) for example. As for today’s gospel, Matthew mentioned them through their mother who tried to secure their position by asking Jesus to allow her two sons to sit at his right and left in His kingdom.

Is being an apostle identity or a position? In the words of Mark, James and John themselves asked Jesus to favor them of the right to be His right/left hand man when His glory comes. Understandably they view apostleship as a position. However, Jesus clearly explained to them to be His apostle is to undergo what He underwent, to do what He did, and above all to do the will of God without any reservations. 

Notice that in chapter 10, Matthew narrated Jesus already summoned the twelve and sent them to mission. The Greek word for apostle is “apostollein, apostolos” which mean ‘being sent’ and ‘the one being sent’ respectively. They have in themselves the full image of Christ as Teacher, Physician and Judge. 

photo c/o turnbacktogod.com

Like James, we Christians often fall to the same danger of laboring for the sake of greater position. We forget that it is not so much of laboring as doing service for the sake of the Kingdom. We overlook that ‘to be sent’ or “the one being sent’ is God’s own initiative; it’s His choice. On our part it is a privilege.

Christian life without a position will never make life less but Christian life without its true identity is not life at all. This is our identity: we have life precisely because Christ lives in us.

Let us contemplate on James’ identity as an apostle as he follows Christ until the end.

LV…the City, not the Brand!

Aside from being the “Entertainment Capital” of the world, Las Vegas also offers cheap gasoline J…Interestingly, Vegas is the place to have what you call ‘desert experience’.

(Background Music c/o Usher feat will.i.am: OMG; Bruno Mars feat Cee Lo Green and B.o.B.: The Other Side)

Sandy SoCal

Next stop is SoCal: San Diego, where the weather is always in two digits. I was told it’s also an ideal ‘haven’ for well off US retirees. Thanks to my special someone, Ms L.A., for the wonderful time.

(Background Music c/o Usher feat Pitbull: DJ Got Us Fallin’ In Love)

Maybe Yes, Maybe No...

With the ‘scandal’ and ‘moral issues’ intimidating the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines for weeks now, many people find themselves either ‘defending’ or ‘questioning’ the credibility of the involved ‘leaders’, more so,  of Christ’s Church. A look at Carlo Carretto’s reflection may shed some light and help us to get involved in a reflective mind and amicable deeds.

  

How much I must criticize you, my church

and yet how much I love you!
You have made me suffer more than anyone

and yet I owe you more that I owe anyone.
I should like to see you destroyed

and yet I need your presence.
You have given me much scandal

and yet you alone have made me understand holiness.
Never in the world have I seen anything more obscurantist, more compromised, more false, yet never have I touched anything more pure, more generous or more beautiful.
Countless times I have felt like slamming the door of my soul in your face –

and yet, every night, I have prayed that I might die in your arms!
No, I cannot be free of you, for I am one with you, even if not completely you.
Then too – where should I go?
To build another church?
But I cannot build another church without the same defects,

 for they are my own defects.
And again, if I were to build another church, it would be my church,

not Christ’s church.
No, I am old enough. I know better!

Why , When, It's a Pity!

1. Why do we have to change ourselves just to fit in when being ourselves make us outstanding and special?
2. Why do we have to open our mouth to produce a sound when doing something in silence brings out life changing impact?
3.  Why do we have to wield too much energy to criticize other people when we can just effortlessly look at ourselves in front of a mirror?
4.  Why do we have to hurt people’s feeling, hurt them deep when there is massive room to hurt our gigantic pride?
5. Why do we complain our prayers were not answered when in them the word forgiveness was not even mentioned?

Too great effort for the wrong reason; Strong motivation with the wrong approach; Attractive appearance, pathetic personality.

It’s a pity that we always miss the point.  

1。為什麼我們要改變自己為了隨時某個單位的準側, 反而我們可以肯定自己又優秀又特殊的？

2。為什麼我們要開口講話為了產生聲音, 反而我們可以在沉默中做一些帶出改變生活的影響？

3。為什麼我們要施加太多精力去批評別人，反而我們可以在鏡子面前毫不費力地審視自己？

4。為什麼我們要傷害人的心，且傷害地太深，反而我們有巨大的空間傷害我們的驕傲？

5。為什麼我們抱怨我們的祈禱沒有獲得答案，反而在祈禱中我們沒有提及寬恕這一詞？

過大的努力為錯誤的理由;強烈的動機與錯誤的做法;造型美觀，可憐的個性。

很可惜，我們總是失落這一點。

The Boat is Sinking…

c/o graphicleftovers.com

They say people with the same situation riding the same boat will surely sink. For how can a lonely person comfort another lonely person? Both of them will just end up crying and dealing with their miseries.  Or how can one person correct the wrongdoing of another person if both of them find in each other company? Both of them will just dive into the sea of mistake and getting drowned is inevitable. Thus the situation calls for another somebody who can really speak from another perspective.

In the Gospel reading (Mt 11: 28-30) yesterday, Jesus invited those who labor and heavily burdened and promised to give them rest. Jesus is not just a third somebody who sees things differently. He labored as we did;  He carried heavy burdens as we did only that He carried the heaviest one. Therefore Jesus' invitation is very credible. He is actually riding with us in the same boat. Nobody understands us best than Him who became like us in every way except to sin. Thus, the saying two people having the same situation will never help each other is not applicable to Jesus because He sure can help. Just make sure He is the one riding with you in that boat. 

Kulang sa Pansin

(For Tagalog Speaking Only/ Para lamang ito sa mga naka-uunawa ng salitang Tagalog)

May mga tao talaga na sadyang “ipinanganak” na “kulang sa pansin”. Ang ibig sabihin ng ‘ipinanganak’ ay sa murang edad ng bata at sa mga baitang ng kanyang paglaki ang pagiging ‘kulang sa pansin’ ay umusbong sa kanyang katauhan. Ito ay bunga ng iba’t-ibang pangyayari katulad ng pagkasira ng anyo, masalimuot na sambahayan, baluktot na alituntunin at iba pa. Ang mga taong ‘kulang sa pansin’ ay napapalooban ng mga ugaling:

c/o Jhay Aquino

1. Walang bilib sa sarili
2. Mayabang
3. Mapanira
4. Balintulot sa kakayahan ng ibang tao
5. Ambang panganib, kapunyagi o kalaban ang palagay sa kapwa, kakilala man o kaibigan.
6. Hindi palalamang sa nakuhang karangalan, maging sa simpleng pakikipag talamitam
7. Nalulungkot at naiinis sa tagumpay at kakayahan ng kanyang kapatid
8. atbp.

Sinu ba sa atin ang hindi kulang sa pansin o dumanas ng pagiging kulang sa pansin? Lahat naman tayo. Ang pag-amin sa sariling kahinaan ay kaakibat ng katapangan at katapatan. Marahil ang dapat nating pagtuunan ng pansin ay sa sandaling makita natin ang ating sarili sa ganitong kalagayan ay saliksikin ang mga pamamaraan kung paano ito mabago at mapagtagumpayan. Sa kadahilanang ang ugaling ito ay puwing sa mata ng kapwa tao at hadlang sa paglawak ng sariling katauhan, ang pagtanggap at pagbabago ay hindi na magiging daing sa atin. Ang dalawang katanungan:

1. Batid ba natin na kulang tayo sa pansin? O marahil tayo ang mga taong may mata, ngunit hindi makakita, may tainga ngunit hindi makarinig?
2. Nakalaan ba tayo na maghandog ng sarili at maging mas mabuting tao?

Psssst!

Do I Know You? (Mt 11: 25-27)

To say you ‘know’ someone in a deeper sense means you have a close connection with that someone. In Chinese, they use two different words, “zhi dao” to express that someone is just an acquaintance, a person whom I heard about or I met before, and “ren shi” which indicates I have known that someone pretty well and had built a close relationship with him/her.

Jesus, in today’s Gospel speaks of “ren shi” to express how close and intimate His relationship with the Father and vice versa. Such a relationship is so intimate that it is unbreakable and inseparable, made possible by God being outside the boundary of time. But human beings are. Would this mean that there is no way we can establish such inseparable relationship with God?

When the Word of God took the human form, God entered into human history. The possibility came into reality when He lived among us. And to know Jesus is to know the Father. Now, it is no longer the question of time and possibility but a question of willingness: ‘Am I willing to establish a deeper relationship with God?”. The greatest opportunity is in our midst folks.  

[知道[ 和 [認識] 這兩個詞有不同的意義. 若我說我知道他, 就表達我見過他. 但若我說我認識那個人, 就表示我與他有密切關係. 今天在福音裡, 耶穌以 [認識] 這一詞來告訴我們祂和父有怎麼樣的關係, 且這種關係有多麼深, 永遠分不開. 父和予之間關係在一方面不屬於時間, 因為天主是無限的上主. 這是否讓我們無法與天主建立一個密切關係?  但在另一方面當 [天主聖言降生人]時, 天主就進入人了類的歷史時間, 而且[居我人間]. 因此, 我們現在有機會認識天主, 與祂建立一個密切關係. 但,重點是我們願否把握這樣已在我們面前的貴重機會?

San Francisco

Michael Buble’s rendition of ‘I left my heart in SF’ and The Rock’s own version of ‘I’ll be back in the summer after Lakers beats the Giants’ make a handful of sensibility. I’m grateful to my cuzzo Egrace for allowing me and for being part of my dream’s realization. Kudos Kaka.

(Background Music c/o Mutya Buena’s cover: Fast Car; Adele: Rolling in the Deep; Black Eyed Peas: Meet me Halfway)

Golden State

Headed to West Coast where Home awaited me. First stop: Elk Grove and Sacramento. It was a happy reunion and another hope fulfilled. I made it all mine.

(Background Music c/o Jason Mraz: Make it Mine)

New York City

Why everybody crazy about NYC is a story to tell, an experience to discover and a curiosity to inquisitive mind.

(Background music c/o Frank Sinatra: New York, New York; Casts of Glee: I Love NY; Jay-Z feat Alicia Keys: Empire State of Mind)

The Big Apple

I finally made it to the Big Apple where American Dream is street after street. They say you go to NY and you see the whole of America. Indeed it’s the place for diversity. It is an experience not even jet-lag can spoil.


(Background Music c/o Jay-Z feat Alicia Keys: Empire State of Mind)

The Nation's Capital (D.C.)

A three hour drive from New Jersey, my friend Jocelyn accompanied me to Catholic University of America where I plan to have my licentiate. Beside CUA are the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, and the Dominican House of Studies of the Province of St Joseph. Unfortunately due to jet-lag, I failed to visit some great monuments, even the White House. Nevertheless, I'm very glad to have made it to the nation's capital.

Lady Liberty

A very good friend, Ms Jocelyn Cruz, see to it that I got to meet Ms Liberty when I drop by my second destination to US soil, New Jersey. Well, nice meeting Lady Liberty in ‘green’. I got to meet another friend from my hometown, Josie who is happily married to Steve, and a happy mom to Janice and Janelle. Thanks guys!

(Background Music is c/o XTC Band - Statue of Liberty)

Hafa Adai (Guam Visit 2011)

I was fortunate enough to visit Guam before going to US mainland. I am indebted to Sr Zenaida Ancheta, OP, the Dominican Missioneras of Ordot, Barrigada and Yigo, DCS teachers and staff, Lay Dominicans, my college classmate Mrs Schelle Mangino Caliboso, and to everyone I met (including the strict immigration officer) for the overwhelming experience. Si Yu'us ma'åse'   

Peace is a choice!

A person who is always divided will never be at peace. We cannot have both worlds: either we accept God or reject God. However, many of us are actually living in both worlds: We accept God and reject God at the same time. We confess that God is good but rejects the idea of being good. We believe that God is the Way but we walk the wrong path or take the short cut; He is Truth yet we deny His teachings and commands; He is Life but we strongly reject life.  If we thought this is peace, then we are being deceived. Jesus’ peace is meant to break that habit of living a double face kind of life. Either we are with Him or against Him. Otherwise, do not wonder why we have a chaotic life.

三心二意的人或意念不專, 主意不定的人絕對不會獲得平安。我們不能有兩個世界：我們要相信天主或否認祂, 接受祂或拒絕祂。但，實際上許多人活在這兩個世界：我們接受天主，同時拒絕祂。我們承認天主是好的，但我們的思,言,行為都是邪惡的。我們相信天主是真道，但我們走了錯誤的路徑或走捷徑; 祂是真理, 但我們否認他的教誨和命令; 祂是生命，但我們堅決反對生命的價值。如果我們認為這是和平，那麼我們被欺騙了。耶穌所帶著的和平，是為了打破這種陽奉陰違的生活習慣。換句而言, 我們就承認祂或反對祂。否則，不要覺得奇怪為什麼我們有一個混亂的生命。

15th Sunday in OT (Mt 13: 1-23)

One of the difficult but important challenges each time we read the Scriptures is finding fresh ideas from it. It is difficult because it takes time for fresh ideas to develop. It is important because such ideas will eventually bring out change on how we treat life. This reality brings out two certain truths:

1. We need wisdom which the Holy Spirit provides.
2. God’s words is life and alive.

Like in today’s Gospel reading, not only Jesus spoke in parable but he also explained the meaning of the parable when the disciples asked him about it. Why Jesus speaks in parable? We got the answer. What’s the meaning of the parable he just told. We had the explanation. So what other truth can we still deduce from it when Jesus’ explanation is very simple and clear?

However, when Jesus spoke the parable, he spoke it to them, about them and with them.  We have here the same speaker and the same message yet referring to three different kinds of situation, audience and meaning. Within these three is the challenge: what have I got to do with it? Is Jesus speaking to me, about me or with me?

If He is speaking to me, do I hear Him? If Jesus is speaking about me, do I realize it? If He is speaking with me, do I understand?

Having a bountiful or disastrous life depends on how we react to the teachings we were imparted. While direct confrontation brings denial, anger and insecurities, speaking in slightly different tone creates an impact to analytic mind and gives room for self realization. 

The message is simple and clear yet it needs a listening ear.

我們每次閱讀聖經的時候, 其中一個最困難而最重要的挑戰是我們如何找到一個新的想法和意義. 一方面很困難是因為發揮新的idea需要長的時間. 另一方面很重要是因為那找到了新的idea就會發出在我們如何對待生命新的想法與態度. 從這個角度來看我們可以肯定兩個真理:

1.    我們需要天主聖神的靈感

2.    天主聖言是生命與有活力的生命.

就像在今天的福音，不僅耶穌發言比喻，但當耶穌的門徒問祂時, 祂也解釋了比喻的含義，且又清楚又簡單。為什麼耶穌講比喻呢？我們得到了答案。耶穌講的比喻有什麼意義呢? 祂已經解釋給我們聽了。那麼，我們還可以推斷甚麼呢？

然而，當耶穌講撒種的比喻時，祂就對他們，談論有關他們並與他們講話。我們這裡有相同的傳播者和相同的消息，卻指出三種不同的情況，對象和意義。在這三個不同的情況，對象和意義中出來一個挑戰：耶穌剛講的比喻跟我有什麼關係呢？耶穌難道對我說話嗎? 還是祂跟我講話？如果祂對我說話，我能聽到祂嗎？若耶穌是談論我，我會否意識到這一點？如果祂跟我說話，我明白了嗎？

答案不只是在今天福音裡, 且在我們如何實行我們所聽到的, 如何在我們基督信仰生活中增長, 結出百倍果實的好地. 擁有一個豐富或不幸的生命就看我們對我們所傳授的教訓有如何反應, 如何在我們日常生活表現出來。

有耳聽的, 就聽罷!

Taiwanese went Gaga!

The visit of the US pop singing star in Taiwan few days ago created an enormous response to mostly young people of the island. Lady Gaga known not only for her music but most especially for her signature fashion style is indeed at the peak of her career. No one can deny the huge impact she’s creating right now as evident by people from most countries idolizing her, to the point of imitating her fashion statement. Her visit to Taiwan is a loud example. Men and women, old and young, queued for hours just to have a glimpse of the star. They even held a parade with people dressed and adorned in everything Lady G’s. Most of them even stayed overnight outside the concert arena in order not to miss the concert.

c/o nookdeejung.blogspot.com

Lady G not only shares the same massive success with talented groups and individuals like The Beatles and Michael Jackson but shares the ‘charisma’ which made them unique – conveying a powerful message.  The British group, the Beatles conveyed a message of patriotic boundaries. Michael Jackson on the other hand conveyed a message of skin-color recognition. Lady G conveyed the message of individuality – freedom from traditional rules and standards.

At first glance it would seem correct, timely and acceptable. This is what the world needs – unfaltering, daring and unyielding individuals fighting for a good cause. However if we will carefully analyze it, Lady G’s message is creating a wrong consciousness to people. It is a pity to see people personify ‘exactly’ or at times overly dressed like her who didn’t realize how ridiculous they look. These people didn’t understand that Lady G’s fashion style is what makes her stands out, original and unique. To copy her in the literal sense is an absolute idolatry. Furthermore, this instance also exposes a certain truth about these copycats mob –  that like Lady G, they found a way to express their insecurities, acrimony and loneliness brought about by strong familial, cultural and social prejudice. Like a bird free from the cage, they fly to their heart’s content, without realizing freedom entails responsibility.

I don’t have problem with asserting oneself and affirming one’s individuality but for goodness sake, express it in a universally acceptable decorum. Copying Lady G’s fashion statement will never be an expression of individual freedom, rather a ‘double imprisonment’ (pseudo-freedom). I would like to believe that Lady G’s message, as she battles her own devil, is for people to find their ‘own way’ to liberate themselves from scrupulous norms through self affirmation in a way they become better and mature individuals. Idolatry in whichever form misses the point.

Learn from Gaga, and not just went Gaga.

Three Yeses, you’re going to the next round!

In the realm of reality TV shows (like the popular “this country’s” got talent) one great aspect of its success is the discovery of an ordinary person with an extraordinary talent. Not only these reality shows become platforms for people to showcase what they’ve got and to tell the world who they are but also they become an avenue to change the popular culture of gender bias, racial discrimination and the concept and standards of beauty. It proves that there is more to a person than meets the eye.

c/o www.lasnark.com

But talent is just one side of the person. While the contestants are said to have innate or acquired skills honed and developed over the years which gave them a pass to be on the show, can their talent handle the enormous pressure from the magnanimous success that awaits them? Some people are driven to success in the wrong perception, some with the right attitude.

Showing the world and sharing to everyone one’s God-given talent is indeed a beautiful gesture. That single performance can change both the life of the performer and those who were touched by the performer’s story. Success can be a good thing if the person will become a better, caring and loving individual who later on shares to the world not only his talent but his/her whole self. This time, his/her talent does not only make him/her successful but his/her talent becomes a vessel to prove what a great human being he/she has become.